Writing, secrets and loads of chocolate cake!

I thought I would start off my Recommended Reads series with the “Vampire Diaries”, because today I found out that the CW network are going to do a pilot on them. And I must say that I am already looking forward too seeing them. 🙂 You can find the articles regarding them here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here & here.

Anyway, about the “Vampires Diaries” is a four book series written by L. J. Smith (her website can be found in the author section to the right) who is the author of many bestselling YA novels:

Elena is the school beauty, but she’s bored. Until a new boy turns up in her class. Stefan is dark and mysterious – and she’s determined to get to know him better. But Stefan is just as determined to resist her … until a series of attacks in the area terrify the town and Stefan is held responsible. Elena is the only one who offers to help and, falling in love with her, Stefan tells her his terrible story. He is a vampire, on the run from his evil brother, Damon, who doesn’t share Stefan’s qualms about drinking human blood. And Damon is the one Stefan suspects of really being behind the recent attacks … Can Elena help prove his innocence – without revealing his secret?

Damon, the evil vampire, is determined to make school beauty Elena his queen of darkness – even if it means killing his own brother to possess her. Stefan, Damon’s brother and Elena’s boyfriend, is desperate for the power to destroy Damon – but knows that means succumbing to his thirst for human blood. Elena, irresistibly drawn to both brothers, knows her choice will decide their fate. But who will she choose…?

Elena, believing she was helping her boyfriend, Stefan, is tricked by his brother Damon into exchanging blood with him – little realising that this will transform her into a vampire too. Now crazed with her own wild craving for blood, it is up to Stefan to save her – but first he must find a way to end his feud with Damon…

Elena, brought back from the dead, calls on Stefan and Damon to recreate their powerful vampire trio. Together they must face incredible evil and battle against it with their combined strength, cunning and charm – only then can they find peace, and save the friends they have left behind…

Also this month the first in three more of the series is been released by Harpercollins.

Nightfall (Vampire Diaries: The Return (Hardback))

When Elena sacrificed herself to save the two vampire brothers who love her—the handsome, brooding Stefan and the sleek and dangerous Damon—she was consigned to a fate beyond death. Until a powerful supernatural force pulled her back.

Now Elena is not just human. She has powers and gifts that were bestowed on her in the afterlife. What’s more, her blood pulses with an overwhelming and unique force that makes her irresistible to any vampire.

Stefan wants to find a way to keep Elena safe so that they can make a life together. Damon, however, is driven by an insatiable desire for power, and wants Elena to rule as his princess. When Stefan is lured away from Fell’s Church, Damon seizes his chance to convince her that he is the brother she is meant to be with. . . .

But a darkness is infiltrating the town, and Damon, always the hunter, is now the hunted; he becomes the prey of a malevolent creature that can possess him at will, and who desires not just Elena’s blood but her death.

I’ve never read The Vampire Diaries, although I have read some of L J Smith’s work – she’s a great author. I hope the series can do the books justice. Can’t wait for this series to air!

On February 8, 2009 at 4:03 pm booksandbites said:

I have to agree with you, L. J. Smith is a fantastic author. I, to, am looking forward to the pilot and the “The Return” books that continue on with the series.

If or when I get more information on this series. I will keep people informed.

On February 10, 2009 at 12:29 am Emily Swan said:

I just finished The Return:Nightfall and is was really good Elena is this angel thing and has a bunch of different wings and Stefan goes too this place without Elena which is a trap but still doesn’t get him back at the end.

On February 10, 2009 at 3:53 am booksandbites said:

Hello Emily,

Thank you for your mini review. I am even more excited about reading the novel now.

If you come back and read this and would like to review the book, I will post your review on here.

There’s a bit of a problem with the last book in the Vampire Diaries series, the Dark Reunion.
For some reason, the synopsis gives away the ending…
Elena isn’t brought back from the dead until the very last pages. The whole book is from Stefan’s, Meredith’s, and Bonnie’s point of view.
And she doesn’t help them at all until the end, but in spirit-form.

On March 16, 2009 at 4:12 am booksandbites said:

I’m sorry I wasn’t aware of that, thank you for pointing that all to me.